Close friend can’t seem to keep a secret

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend keeps telling others about my private business, and it’s starting to feel like a real betrayal. I recently started seeing someone new, and because my friend and I are very close, I shared the news with her. I was excited to tell her, and I trusted her to keep it between us. But almost immediately, I started hearing from other friends and even some casual acquaintances asking me about the new guy I’m seeing! It’s frustrating because I’m still getting to know him, and I wanted to keep things quiet until I felt more comfortable and surer about the relationship.

The case for mass deportations

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to “launch the largest deportation of criminals in American history.” That is a quote from a Nov. 2 rally in Salem, Virginia, but Trump has said precisely the same thing dozens of times. Still, through the course of a long campaign, with his improvisational style, Trump has occasionally worded his pledge differently.

Albert: The greatest cat to ever live

Of all the photos I have of our cat Albert, the one that best illustrates his unique, unforgettable personality is the one where he’s posing as “The Orange Dog,” a founding member of the three-dog, one-cat security team at Cypress Creek Farm, our place out in Perry County, Arkansas. There he is lying in the shadow of a small tree on a sunny spring morning, surrounded on all sides by approximately 300 pounds of large dogs, acting as if he’s completely in command.

In 1851, the first American edition of Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” was published.

Aging spurts stem from molecular changes

Dear Doctors: I always thought that your body ages gradually as you get older, kind of like your car does. But now I’ve been hearing that we actually go through a couple of spurts where we age really quickly. Can you please explain where this idea comes from?

Government has been warping history

In the last several days, the country has been making difficult history. In the past year, its government has been warping history.

Teen sister feels overwhelmed and stressed

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a 16-yearold sister who is currently facing the challenges of being a high school student. With the pressure to excel academically and socially, she often feels overwhelmed and stressed, striving to meet the high expectations set by herself and others. I’ve noticed that this stress sometimes manifests as anxiety and mood swings, which can be difficult for her to manage. What can we possibly do to help her so that she doesn’t feel stressed out in school and in life? – Academic Anxieties DEAR ACADEMIC ANXIETIES: If there is a school counselor with whom she can talk, that would be great. Being able to express her fears and concerns to a neutral party can help her understand her feelings and manage them. Your parents may also want to get her a private therapist who can support her during this time. What’s key is having a professional she can trust to help her navigate what she’s experiencing.

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